I first had the pleasure of meeting the TruSpeed AutoSports team in the summer of 2015 at a race in Buttonwillow, Ca. My family met with Robin Hudson and her family in Bakersfield on Friday, where we spent the weekend getting to know each other for the first time. I’d never met another PMG mom, my husband had never met another PMG dad before this meeting and my son and I had never met another PMG child before this either. On Saturday, our two families drove into Buttonwillow where Robin and her husband Rick introduced us to some of the most amazing people I’ve ever met in my life, the TruSpeed AutoSports Race Team. When we walked around the hauler and saw the PMG car sitting there in all her glory with the names of all of our PMG kiddos on it, I was truly taken aback and speechless. One hand went over my heart and the other hand went on the roof of the most beautiful car I’ve ever seen in my life while my eyes overflowed with tears. Those tears were just the first of many that I unashamedly shed that day.
The day commenced with the race team providing a catered Mexican lunch and drinks for the day for everyone in attendance (including Pedialyte). We watched qualifying, the race, preparations, car repairs and were treated like we were part of the race team. Tom Haacker, the driver, played with Sean (Robin’s son) and Dustin (my son). He kept the boys cool on a 110-degree day with water fights that made both boys squeal in delight every time Tom got them or someone else wet. Tom rode Sean and Dustin around very protectively on his motorbike and the boys loved it. Tyler Tadevick, the team owner, joined in on the fun and both Tom and Tyler, along with the rest of the team, spent time talking with us making sure they kept telling us to “make yourselves at home”.
The first time I saw “our car” on the track I was completely overwhelmed with emotions that I never expected. I’m a race fan and I’ve spent a lot of time at the track and in hospitality suites, but this experience was something like I’d never experienced before. It was personal. That was “MY car” on the track! “My SONS car”! The car of kids I’d never met before, but loved so very much because they share the same struggles my son does! To see that beautiful PMG car with the names of so many of our brave babies and angels on it cross that Start/Finish line, even during qualifying, brought forth an onslaught of emotions that I was not prepared for. Tom was the fastest car on the track by a full 6 seconds and he said it was “our kids riding with him and pushing him along”. I have to say, I think he’s right. The comments we overheard about Tom’s speed and lead on everybody else on the track from other spectators and race teams made us smile, beam with pride and of course cry. Rick kept teasing Robin and I because we couldn’t stop crying. I think we literally cried the WHOLE day! The car had some mechanical trouble and had to pull out of the race and the team was upset saying “we wanted to win it for our kids”.
During the day the team had a name placement ceremony that we got to participate in. What an honor! They let Dustin pick where he wanted his name to go on the car and let him place it there. I kissed my sons name on the roof of the car and cannot even begin to put into words the amount of emotions that ran rampant through me when I did. Yes! I was crying! Uncontrollably by this time. I hugged and kissed one of the crew members and said “Thank you so much! I can’t even begin to tell you how much this means to me” as I was sobbing. He held me tighter and said “You just did mom and it’s truly our honor”. We continued to place names of other PMG kids on the car and it was incredible! Sean and Dustin got to take turns sitting in the driver’s seat of “their car” and their smiles and giggles were contagious! The team had shirts made with the PMG car on them and they gave us all one with a speech of how much our kids mean to them, how much our kids inspire them and how much the race team wants to help them.
The team is going to get us National media coverage for PMG at upcoming races in 2016 with live interviews. Being provided with the opportunity to explain to the ENTIRE NATION what PMG is and get the website out there is amazing. Yes! Robin and I held onto one another and cried again. The guys on this team don’t have any kids with PMG or special needs, but they’ve taken on this mission of increasing awareness with a personal vengeance. They kept thanking us for everything, but we’re the ones that are thankful beyond words!
Later in the fall, my family went to another race with TruSpeed at Sonoma Raceway (Sears Point) in Sonoma, CA where we received the same treatment as we did in Buttonwillow. Robin and her family were unable to attend this race with us and I was concerned that being there without them would make a difference in how we were accepted, but it didn’t in the slightest. Tyler met us at the front gate and brought us to their hauler where we had all the drinks we could possibly want again as well as Tri-Tip, salad and other food. Tyler let Dustin listen in on the race by giving him a pair of team headphones and my mom and I were in the pits with the pit crew. For two NASCAR fans, that experience alone was incredible beyond words and a dream come true! They weren’t running our PMG car that day, but it was still amazing to be a part of the experience. Tom placed third in the race that day and another TruSpeed driver, Will Lin, placed second. Tom took Dustin by the hand and told us to follow him to Victory Lane. Dustin was given a special Pirelli Tires baseball hat from the owner of Pirelli Tires (he apparently doesn’t hand those out very often) and Tom kept proudly introducing him as “one of our PMG kids”. When it came time for the awards ceremony and they called Tom up to the podium, he took Dustin up there with him and gave Dustin the trophy without hesitation. Yes! I was crying again!!! The look of pride on Tom and Dustin’s faces were noticed by all and everyone in the tent (made up mostly of men) had tears in their eyes or on their cheeks. Will, TruSpeed’s second place winner, gave Dustin his Pirelli Tires Winner’s cap. Once back at the hauler, Dustin handed the trophy back to Tom and Tom said, “Keep it buddy! It’s yours! You earned it! I love you!” And the tears flowed freely again. Tom autographed the back of the trophy for Dustin and wrote, “Dustin, You’re always riding with me! Tom”. That trophy is proudly displayed on our TV stand and I plan on putting together a TruSpeed AutoSports wall with pictures and the trophy right in the center of it all. How many kids have a real, authentic racing trophy?
“It’s a pleasure and a privilege to work with the PMG families and PMG Awareness. In racing, there isn’t a bigger squandering of manpower, resources, or money…especially when you consider that you end up where you started, but you hurried to get there. With that said, the happiness and the joy on the kids’ faces when they come to the track, or when they find their name on the car…it makes it much more fulfilling. It gives us something and someone to go racing for. The entire program with PMG was instigated by one of our drivers, Mr. Tom Haacker. We are privileged to work with him as well and it’s great to take something that is typically very selfish and do something unselfish with it. Thank you to all the PMG families for all their support on and off the race track. We are privileged to help in whatever small way we do. We look forward to working with you all well into the future and to helping find a cure for PMG”
Tyler Tadevick-owner TruSpeed AutoSports
The entire race team means the world to me! I am so eternally grateful for each and every one of them! They call to check on Dustin and respond to his texts lovingly. The amount of love, pride and acceptance the team has bestowed upon our kids is second to none and truly indescribable. I am so blessed to have them in my son’s life and to be part of such an amazing race team. I am forever grateful to Robin and Rick for introducing us to them.
Follow the team on Facebook and go to a race, the schedule is below. Our PMG car will be run three times at Buttonwillow, CA, one time at Willow Springs, Rosamond, CA and one time at Salt Lake City, UT. You don’t want to miss this! I personally guarantee you that it will be a life changing experience that I highly encourage you to participate in! If you can’t make it to a race with the PMG car, but would still like to support an incredible team that gives us so much support, please do so! Let Robin or I know you’re going and we’ll make sure they and/or us are there to greet you along with plenty of tissue. My family and I intend to go to as many races as possible this year to support our guys! We hope to see you all at the track!!!
I would like to extend a very personal and huge thank you to the entire TruSpeed AutoSports Race Team!!!! Together, we’ll increase awareness and get PMG to the checkers!!!!
Truly Grateful,
Karen Murphy
Proud PMG mother of Dustin
https://www.facebook.com/TruSpeedMotorsports
TruSpeed AutoSports’ TENTATIVE 2016 Race Schedule
Date: Thursday, March 3 – Sunday, March 6
Location: Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas
Date: Friday, March 11 – Sunday, March 13
Location: Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, Florida
Date: Friday, April – Sunday, April 17
Location: Grand Prix of Long Beach, Long Beach, California
Date: Friday, April 22 – Sunday, April 24
Location: Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama
Date: Thursday, May 19 – Sunday, May 22
Location: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
Date: Friday, May 27 – Saturday, May 28
Location: Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, Connecticut
Date: Thursday, June 23 – Sunday, June 26
Location: Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Date: Friday, July 29 – Saturday, July 30
Location: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio
Date: Friday, August 12 – Sunday, August 14
Location: Utah Motorsports Campus, Tooele, Utah
Date: Friday, September 16 – Sunday, September 18
Location: Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, California
Date: Friday, October 7 – Sunday, October 9
Location: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, California
Date: Saturday, March 12 – Sunday, March 13
Location: Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas
Date: Friday, April 8 – Sunday, April 10
Location: The Thermal Club, Thermal, California
Date: Friday, May 13 – Sunday, May 15
Location: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, California
Date: Friday, June 3 – Sunday, June 5
Location: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, California
Date: Friday, July 1 – Sunday, July 3
Location: Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, California
Date: Friday, August 12 – Sunday, August 14
Location: Utah Motorsports Campus, Toole, Utah
Date: Friday, September 9 – Sunday, September 11
Location: Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, California
Date: Friday, September 23 – Sunday, September 25
Location: Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas
WERC Series
Date: Friday, March 11
Location: Willow Springs, CA
Date: Saturday, April 16
Location: Button Willow, CA
Date: Saturday, June 18
Location: Button Willow, CA
Date: Saturday, April 16
Location: Button Willow, CA
Date: Saturday, August, 6
Location: TBA
Date: Late September/October TBD
Location: TBD
